Street Art & Murals in Ontario’s Southwest
Some downtowns lack energy while others have a real pulse. I have experienced both in our travels around Ontario’s Southwest. The cool thing is how more communities seem to be investing in downtown spaces recently. One thing that I enjoy is discovering how art can bring colour, light, and depth to walls, alleyways and street corners. Artists can help to develop a genuine sense of identity for cities, towns and villages. Over the past few months, we have had fun drawing attention to murals and other art-objects through our young & free press Instagram page. Here are a few pieces that stand out in my mind:
‘Strange Detour’ by Denial
In May 2019, we had a chance to meet Windsor artist Denial in his downtown studio. This was entirely random – we were walking through the alley nearby, admiring some of the murals, and the artist happened to be there. Really, this brief moment sparked our interest and got us thinking about street art and murals – Denial has painted some incredible pieces in Windsor, Detroit, and other cities, too. There was recently a cool exhibition of his work called ‘Shelf Destruction’ at the Chicago Truborn art gallery.
Maddie King and Emily Stage of young & free press met Windsor-based artist Denial in May 2019.
I recommend visiting Windsor and seeing the murals by Denial in the alleyway between Ouelette Ave and Pelissier Street near Wyandotte. One of the true landmark pieces is called ‘Strange Detour’ that took shape throughout summer 2019. We saw this one in progress, and then visited when the piece was finished. The size and scope of the mural is mesmerizing and references the border-vibe between Windsor and Detroit. We visit the area largely because of the street art. This summer we’re planning a visit to Eastern Market in Detroit to see the latest artwork there. Murals are a powerful way to reimagine and renew urban areas.
Emily Stage & Maddie King of young & free press check out the ‘Strange Detour’ mural by artist Denial in downtown Windsor.
Old East Village mosaic by Susan Day
The Old East Village mosaic by artist Susan Day at the corner of Adelaide and Marshall in London is very interesting. Quick facts: Susan took the lead on the project, and dozens of people assisted with the installation back in 2018; in May 2019, a car drove through the wall, and the mosaic had to be repaired! The piece looks simple at first glance, but get closer – there are many small details that give the work meaning and a sense of purpose. I see the challenges and opportunities in Old East Village embedded in the mosaic. There is real joy in looking more closely, and the longer you stay the more details you can spot. It reminded me of the ‘I Spy’ books that I used to look at when I was a kid. The mosaic makes me happy and sad, reflecting the struggles and the innovations in that part of the city. There are flowers and butterflies, eyes and lips, and also symbols of disturbance – needles, for example, hinting at drug use. Spend a bit of time in Old East and you find that all of this is part of the culture. The neighbourhood is fascinating.
Andrew Gunn and Maddie King of young & free press stand in front of the Old East Village mosaic in London. Lead artist Susan Day completed the mural with dozens of others assisting in 2018.
Most street art is created using paint. Susan has been involved for years with the London Clay Art Centre on Dundas Street. It’s cool to see a clay mosaic mural. I had never seen street art done in this way, and I think this really draws the interest of the viewer – the key is to pay enough attention to pause for a moment and look deeper. Maybe this is the real lesson of art, which we can transfer to everyday life – stop for a moment, and pay attention to someone or something instead of always skimming the surface. I enjoyed looking at the details of the mosaic and thinking over what the colours and symbols were suggesting.
Eternal Sunflower by Steve Johnson
Another piece of art that I find beautiful is the ‘Eternal Sunflower’ by Steve Johnson that can be found at the corner of Robinson and Kent streets in downtown Simcoe. This mural is bright and happy, and reminds me of summer and the specific feelings that come with that season – this is a wonderful mood to access during the cold, harsh winter in Canada. We can all get a little sad and sluggish during those dark, dreary days when the sun stays hidden.
Maddie King of young & free press stands alongside artist Steve Johnson during the painting to ‘Eternal Sunflower’ in October 2019.
The bright yellow flowers make me feel upbeat. This is a perfect mural for the setting, where some of the buildings are a bit dark – the artist seemed to know that the space needed a pop of colour! Steve did an exceptional job, especially considering that this is the first mural that he attempted and he had only just recently done the sketch before starting. This makes the piece feel a bit impulsive, a quick grab at the sunshine. This reminds me of summer, too. Ultimately, the sunflower mural is simple and effective, and a great photo-spot in downtown Simcoe.
The Masterpiece London Murals
Back in June 2018, there was an event called ‘Masterpiece London’ that took place under the skyway at the London Convention Centre, which is now known as RBC Place London. The event featured several artists painting murals on the pillars under the skyway bridge – the lineup included Brad Biederman, BACON, Mique, Astro, and Meaghan Claire Kehoe. Now, if you walk around this space, the legacy of the event is impressive to witness – all the murals are really compelling. I find the location a surprising place for murals, but I love that the space was chosen for that very reason … the artwork adds some colour to the mostly concrete environment, kind of a pleasant surprise for everyone walking or driving by. We need more spots like that.
One mural that stood out to me in particular is a woman and bull painted by Meaghan Claire Kehoe. I admire touches of realism in art, and Meaghan did a great job of making both figures look realistic and vital; also, I admire the contrast of the bright background colours against the black-and-white skin and fur of the subjects, plus the touch of chaos in the background. All these contrasts make the bull and the woman memorable.
Emily Stage and Andrew Gunn of young & free press wandered around the murals at RBC Place London recently. All the artwork is impressive, including this piece by Meaghan Claire Kehoe.
The mural radiates a sense of empowerment, perhaps feminist in tone, as the woman has an intense look in her eyes and is pictured with a bull, an animal long-viewed as powerful and virile. I thought that the woman appears to have defeated or tamed the bull in some way – the bull has a lazy, tired look, and the woman is above that, strong and intense. I love the look.
‘Lettuce Girl’ by Robyn Lightwalker
Not sure if this mural has a name, but we call her ‘Lettuce Girl’ … artist Robyn Lightwalker certainly brightened up this wall on Robinson Street in downtown Simcoe with this stunning piece that somehow captures and conveys the idea of a girl with hair like lettuce and light sparkling throughout the leaves. It is hard to imagine a better mural for this spot in Simcoe in rural Norfolk County, which is nicknamed ‘Ontario’s Garden’ because of the incredible diversity of agricultural produce grown in the area.
Alex Popen, Maddie King & Emily Stage of young & free press stopped for a shot with this gorgeous mural by artist Robyn Lightwalker shortly after the piece was finished on Robinson Street in downtown Simcoe.
I love the way that the paint appears to glow. The setting is so perfect, even matching the name of the artist – with this mural, Robyn Lightwalker genuinely ‘lights up the walk’ at the entrance to this downtown alley, which apparently has been rather grim and foreboding for years. The glow-effect of the mural shines through the darkness, and the bright colours do, too. The agricultural theme is woven through the lettuce-like hair of the girl and looped back with the plant held in her hand. In my eyes, the girl is almost like a gatekeeper, or someone who welcomes you at the outset of a challenge. I think it would be cool to add something to each entrance to the alley (there are three entry points), and gradually the meaning of each mural would change as the alley transforms into an art-filled space (there are already several murals on the walls with more to come).
This mural makes the once-scary alley seem a little less intimidating. Art can make everyone feel welcome. Robyn did a great job with this space. Visit Simcoe and take a photo …
Railway City Wings by Kelsey Montague
Last but not least, I wanted to highlight the ‘Wings’ mural by Kelsey Montague at 403 Talbot Street in downtown St. Thomas. This is a major addition to the landscape in Ontario’s Southwest, and perfect for anyone trying to get a shot for Insta – strike a pose, show off your outfit while looking like a butterfly with massive wings! The black-and-white look makes the mural seem stark and simple at first, but it is a truly intricate piece with lots of little details and designs. There are some trademark St. Thomas details in the wings, such as Jumbo the elephant and a set of railway tracks. It is encouraging to see more and more art being added to my hometown, because the downtown is quite dull in places. Putting the wings on Talbot Street was a particularly good idea, providing anyone walking or driving by the opportunity to take a photo or at least admire the installation.
Maddie King of young & free press stands in the ‘Wings’ by artist Kelsey Montague. This piece, designed specifically for St. Thomas, has now been installed at 403 Talbot Street.
I love just how big the wings are – standing beneath them makes me feel small but at the same time maybe powerful, momentarily acting as though such a large, beautiful set of wings could belong to me. The mural looks modern, too, while incorporating some historical notes. This is a good lesson – in many small cities and towns, there seems to be a desire to retreat always to historical themes, but we can evolve, too. St. Thomas needs this, and we are starting to move in new and more fascinating directions. We can still recognize the past, but I think that we should focus on being modern and looking forward to the future of the community. This mural adds so much to St. Thomas. I love seeing art on the streets of my city.
Here is the article author, Emily Stage, with artist Kelsey Montague in St. Thomas in December 2019. The ‘Wings’ mural for St. Thomas was in process at the time & can be glimpsed in the background of the photo.
Keep the murals and street art coming! I’m excited to see more and more artwork out in public view throughout Ontario’s Southwest. Personally, I love admiring all the details and hard work that artists put into the pieces, the unique styles and techniques, and especially the emotions expressed. All of the pieces that I have highlighted here help to enhance the various urban environments. I am grateful to each artist for making our cities and towns a bit brighter. Final note: the awesome bird & worm mural in the photo at the top of the article is by artist Brad Biederman and can be found off Clarence Street between York and King in downtown London.
